Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 137

137 Hospital and Waiting-1

Lucian

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We waited in the hallway, time crawling slower with every breath. Darian had gone in to sign the consent forms, and now it was just me and Mara-sitting in those stiff, sterile chairs, the hum of hospital lights buzzing above us like some cruel reminder of how fragile everything was.

Mara didn’t look well. Her hands were cold, her face pale. I’d tried to convince her to go home and rest,

but she wouldn’t hear it.

“I promised Tiffany I would be here,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.

I wrapped my arm around her. “Well, thank the goddess this is a hospital. I might just get you a room here

myself.”

She gave me a small smile, the kind that barely touched her eyes. Normally, that line might’ve made her laugh. But today, there was nothing funny about anything.

Tiffany had come too close to the edge. I could feel it. And I knew Mara was scared. I was too.

“How did it get this bad?” I asked.

“She was alone,” Mara said, bitterly. “No one came to help her.”

My stomach clenched. “You mean there were no workers on that wing?”

She nodded, and my blood boiled.

“Austin told me they disappear the moment your father, Martha, or Darian aren’t around. Jason even reported it to Martha. She did nothing.”

I clenched my jaw. I paid those staff full salaries-benefits included. And they left a pregnant woman to

suffer alone?

“I guess we’ll be hiring,” I said coldly.

Mara nodded.

Darian returned moments later. He looked wrecked-sweating, eyes bloodshot, trying to keep it together but clearly hanging by a thread.

“You need to calm down,” I said. “Panic won’t help right now.”

He stared blankly ahead. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone.”

I didn’t argue.

“Yes,” I said plainly. “It is. The workers disappeared once you, my father, and your mother weren’t around. Only the goddess knows how long Tiffany was crying for help before she reached Mara. She had to drive from our house to bring her here.”

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137 Hospital and Waiting-1

I saw the guilt hit him like a wave.

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“Martha was told about the staff behavior. She did nothing. But you could’ve made sure someone stayed

with Tiffany.”

Darian’s fists clenched. “I’m sacking all of them.”

I nodded. “That’s a start.”

“What did the doctors say?”

He didn’t answer at first. His head dipped low, eyes swimming with unshed tears.

“She has pre-eclampsia,” he said finally. “Severe. I should’ve seen the signs-her swollen feet, the fatigue.

But I wasn’t even paying attention.”

Mara leaned forward gently. “What are her chances?”

Darian’s lip trembled. “They’re taking the baby out to treat her. But the doctor said… he can’t make any

promises.”

He cracked after that. No more holding back. He broke down in front of us, and I let go of Mara to pull him

into an embrace.

“This is all my fault,” he sobbed.

And I didn’t correct him-because it was true.

He had someone willing to stand by him, and he left her to handle the hardest part of her life alone. Not just emotionally-but physically. Painfully. Dangerously. Because he’d been too wrapped up chasing what he couldn’t have to value what he did.

Tina tricked me, and yet Mara and I still made sure she was cared for. We had people watching over her day and night. I kept my distance, yes-but I never ignored her needs. Darian’s case was different. He had Tiffany, and he chose to let her suffer.

And now the consequence of all that neglect was being laid bare in a hospital ward.

We waited. Two long, crushing hours passed.

Then finally, Dr. Jefferson returned.

“Congratulations, Beta Darian,” he said.

But Darian cut him off.

“How is Tiffany?”

The doctor hesitated.

And just like that, the air thinned. My pulse pounded. The hesitation meant it wasn’t good.

137 Hospital and Waiting 2

137 Hospital and Waiting-2

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“She’s slipped into a coma,” Dr. Jefferson said, his voice carefully neutral. “We’re hopeful she’ll come out of

1. Her vitals have stabilized, but from here on, it’s up to her-and her wolf. You can see your daughter now.

”

Darian didn’t move. He just stood there, frozen. My Alpha mark began to burn subtly on my skin. It wasn’t pain, but it was pressure-a warning. Something was off. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew the unease wasn’t just coming from the situation. It was coming from him.

“Darian,” I said, stepping toward him, “you need to calm down. Let’s go see your daughter.”

Dr. Jefferson cleared his throat. “Would this be a good time to take the swab for the DNA test you

requested?”

Darian didn’t answer. Didn’t even blink. The doctor looked to me, confused. Mara stepped forward.

“Take us to her,” she said, firm and clear.

The doctor nodded, and Darian followed silently.

We entered the room, and there she was-peaceful, tiny, wrapped in soft blankets and lying in her cot like nothing in the world could touch her. Mara stepped closer, lifted her gently into her arms.

“She’s beautiful,” she whispered. The baby stirred, eyes still closed. “Do you want to hold her?”

Darian nodded, stiffly.

I wanted to stop her. My instincts screamed not to let him touch her yet-but Mara had already handed the baby over. He cradled his daughter, and tears rolled down his face.

“She has an Alpha mark,” Dr. Jefferson said, pointing to the faint crescent on the baby’s upper right arm.

There was no disputing it now. She was his. The bloodline was clear.

A nurse entered with a swab kit, and even though Darian wasn’t asking for it anymore, they took samples from him and the baby. He’d ordered it weeks ago. Might as well finish the process.

“What am I supposed to do now?” Darian asked, his voice hoarse.

I looked him in the eye. “Pray she wakes up. And when she does, beg her to forgive you. All that doubt, all that stress-you put her through it for nothing. Nothing.”

He lowered his head, tears falling silently.

The nurse returned to take the baby for feeding. We decided to check on Tiffany.

She looked like she was sleeping-so still, so quiet, wrapped in wires and machines. Mara’s hand trembled

as she reached for her.

“We just hung out yesterday,” she whispered through tears. “She was so full of life.”

137 Hospital and Waiting 2

wrapped an arm around Mara and kissed her hair. It was gutting to see her break like this-but it also

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